Process of and apparatus for continuous filtration



0a. 2e,192e.. 1,604,649

F. WQMANNING v PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR-CONTINUOUS FILTRATION Filed Jan. 28, 1924 2 sh ts-sheet;

Oct. 26,1926.

. F. W. MANNING PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR: CONTINUOUS FILTRATION Filed Jan. 28, 1 24 z sheets-sheet 2 Patented a. 26, 1926. 3

UNITED STATES.

ram) w. MANNING; or new Yoanjn Y.

'rnocnss or AND APPARATUS non CONTINUOUS rrn'rna'rroi Application filed January 28,1924. Serial No. 6811 78.

This invention relates to processes of and apparatus for continuous treatment and pressure filtration; and it comprises a method wherein liquid to be treated and filtered is passed in counter-direction to the treating material to a point of separation therefromunder conditions compacting the treating material at said point of separatiom said treating material being washed and reconditloned under similar conditions. The invention further comprises means for delivering treating material as a continuous, moving body through an apparatus, means for compacting it as it enters each section of i said apparatus, means for admitting liquid to be treated and for removing used treating materiaL-means for delivering the used treating material to and through washing and conditioning sections of the apparatus, and means for discharging the filtering material after washingand conditioning; all

.asmore fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

Attention is also directed to my following copending applications relating to this subject matter Serial No. 747,431, filed Nov. 3, 1924;

Serial No. 20,155,'filed April 2, 1925; and Serial No. 37,600, filed June 17, 1925. In many methods of decolorizing, bleaching, clarifying and otherwise purifying liquids, it is desirable to contact a certain amount of fine or pulverulent material as intimately as may bewith a body of liquid to be purifiedin order to absorb the free suspensoids or dissolved impurities contained in the liquid; and. to dolthis in a continuous way. This is particularly the case in methods of treating oils with fine fullers earth and sugar solutions with fine bone char, etc. There are many other fine materials which are used in a similar way, such as silica,

kleselguhr or dlatomaceous, earth, decolori zmg carbons, etc. Smce an adsorbing action is used,'the greater the surface of the solid which can be ex osed to the liquid, as a rule, the better; and or this reason, fiiie materials are more eflicient than coarser. But there are many mechanical difficulties in the way of quickly and uniforml contacting fine maticularly where t e liquids are of viscous character, Filter presses quickly clog.

- its advantages are Therefore, as a rule, relatively coarse material is used in preference to fine and the liquid allowed to ercolate through the material in tanks.- ometimes, the liquid and the solid material are mixed and the solids then allowed to settle out. vIt is diflicult' in these operations to attain any speed and the purifying, washing, and reconditioning operations are not efiicrent. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of, and apparatus for, continuous hi hspeed treatment ofliquids withsolids with eificient utilization of ,the adsorbin powers of the solid material; this process a lowing fine material to be used as readily as coarse. I shall hereinafter describe it more particularly as applied to the treatment of oils, and particularly mineral oils, with fullers earth; but. the invention may also beused with other treating materials on other liquids. Its advantages, however, appear to the greatest extent in .treating mineral oils with fine fullers earth.

While the present method and apparatus may be used with relatively coarse materials, particularly apparent with fine materials. I

In the, present invention, I'establish and maintain a slowly moving column of liquid to be treated in a suitable casing, this column being supplied with liquid'at one end and li uid being withdrawn at the other. Through this column of liquid I move the required proportion of fine purifying or treatin material in a counter-direction, with the aid of apparatus of the screw conveyortype. At the point where'the solids are to be separated from the'liquid, I ordinarily and advantageously convert the moving solid material into a loosely compacted, constantly renewed cake of standard thickness. 'While atv other points in the system the pro ortions of solid inthe liquid may vary, at-t e po nt of separation, or the point of exit of the liqui it is desirable tohave the solid in what may be called a cake of a certain standardized thickness The conveyor is of erforatecl metal and is provided with a fi tering fabric or the like, to permit forward 'pass in a right line counter-current to the forward movement of the solids; The solid movement of-the liquid through the system 'u') treating materialcis introduced into the system through a coned inlet port with WhlCh registers a check valve.

his check valve may be of heavy construction, to offer gravital resistance, and particularly in event' that the passage of fine material into the system is upward; but it may be spring-pressed or otherwise positively held in said coned inlet. In this manner, the entering solids are compacted and form, so to speak, their own sealing means against escape of liquid through this inlet. Such a'valve also permits intermittent introduction of solid material, which is sometimes convenient. Whenever feed of solid material passing the valve ceases, the valve seats and seals the casing. After use of a treatin material in this way, it is in general desirab e to wash the material and thereafter to recover the wash soakage. To this end,

I in the best embodiment of the present invention, the treating material goes through three or more chambers in a generally similar way; that is, the material leaving the treating chamber passes a check valve to enter a washin chamber, similar to the treating chain er, passes through the washingliquid and then passes against another check valve through a conditioning chamber, also similar to the two previous chambers.

In the accompanying drawings showing two forms of a specific embodiment of my invention and in several views in which, where possible, similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a View in elevation of a complete structure for utilizing, washing and reconditioning filtering material with upward passage of such material;

Fig. 2 is a view in central vertical section of the lower third of the structure of Fig.

1; the view stopping at line 22 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmental horizontal section along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; t

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation ofa modified form of apparatus with downward passage ,of filtering material;

Fig. 5 1s a fragmentary view in central vertical section of the apparatus of Fig. 4; thed view terminating at line 55 on Fig. 4; an

Fig. 6 isa fra mentary sectional view of the conveyor used in the other figures.

In Fig. 1, the apparatus is shown as composed of three successive sections, A, B, and

Section A is shown in Fig. 2. The structure of sections B and C is, however, the. same. f'

Referrin first to Figs. 1 and 2, filtering material w 'ch, commonly, is of, uite fine nature, so that it will pass throug a 100- mesh sieve, although it may be coarser,'is introduced into the system by hopper 1, entering horizontal conveyor casi 2, containing screw conveyor 3 actuated power ,sage therebetween.

4. As shown, the horizontal conveyor casing delivers into a vertical casing 5 mterior- 1y provided with an ordinary type of screw conveyor 6, mounted on axial shaft 7 This shaft is driven by drive means 8. The vertical conveyor delivers material to a coned inlet casing within which seats a sort of check valve 10. As shown, this check valve consists of a heavy body of metal with its lower end tapered to conform to the interior of the conical casing Other means of causing a check valve to offer a positive resistance to the flow of material may be useful; but the simple heavy body of metal loose on the drive shaft which passes through it axially is convenient. As will be seen, solid material delivered by the vertical screw conveyor tends to force this check valve upward and pass between it and the casing as a compacted layer. Above the coned casing is a. tubular casing 11 provided with valved outlet pipe 12 for treated liquids. WVithin the casing is the thin perforated wearing plate 13 spaced away somewhat from the walls of the tubular casing to form an annular liquid pas- As shown, two rings, 14 and 15, are provided for holding the wearing plate in place. Ordinarily, as shown in Fig. 3, I provide a corrugated, perforated metal spacing element 16 carrying interiorly afine-meshed woven metal filter cloth 17 .and interiorly and over the filter cloth is the wearing plate 13. As shown, the check valve element extends upwardly to a point near the to of the filter elements,

filter cloth 19 which may be held in place and protected by a thin slotted or perforated wearing element 20. Near its top, the tubular casing is provided with valved inlet 21. The several vertical elements so far de-- scribed are united by flanged joints in a well known way. Surmountin the cylindrical casing'is another coned casmg 22 into which the conveyor 18 extends. Above this cone is a small tubular conduit 23, being the lower end of section B as shown in Fig. 1. This, in turn, is provided with a chuck valve 10', similar to va1ve'10 already described.

In the illustration of Fig. 1, A is the section wherein contact of solid material and liquid to be purified is effected; in section B i the impregnating liquid, as for example oil,

isi' removed fromflthe solids by xmeans of a suitable solvent, ;:suchvas naphthaixintrw duced atj24- and removed-$25.. Section C,

with an outlet in turn, is likefthe others but is useddo re move the solventernployed iniB. .;.:1.For this- In Figs. 4 and 5 the. constructionixis much the same, save that. solid materials'rare introduced into hopper and pass downward successively through the several sections A. B and 0-, goinggto exit indischarging means D. Liquidtobe purified enters A through 2 1 .and'is removed at 12. With downward passage of solids,. the "simple: gravlty controlled check valve of thedcvice of Figs. 1 and ,2 cannot be here used. In its place I have ,shown a counter-weighted check valve3l, normally held up in closed position by lever arm 32 carrying weight 33.

In the operation ofgthe structure otFigs. 1 and 2, presuming oilis to be treated with fullers earth, sugar solution with decolorizing carbon or bone char, or any other liquid with a purifying adsorbtive solid. any relative proportion of solid and of, liquidmay be provided in section A, this proportion de-.

pending mostly upon all character "of. material being used. The purifying solids in A may be in the form of a fairly consistent cake or body, vbut usually they form a sludge with the liquid above the check valve and filter elements and between these a loosely packedf cake. -What is desirable depends upon the pharacter of the; liquid and uponthe-lmpuritiesto 'beremoved. In thelower zones, where the solid. 7 materials are-com- .pacted as in passingv through the cOnedcaS-J lngand the channel between the filteraelement's and the "check valve, both the purify-. -1ng..mater1al, andgthe liquid are free from impuritiesand] there; is very little. difficulty 1n. separat1ng,,them.;. The material vpassing brie 31p? 6f l la dmfl i i: mmediat ywon; 111M easi g; -.:-.ne lses wi i i Q Q h ni through 1the annul' e y west-mat rial emesiat contac ntreated iquid .en'te of the soakage is forced'out, drainin back into section A and at the same time t e material forms its own seal-against the escape of liquid at this point. The impregnated spent and comparatively dry material passes into the next section B against the resistance of the check valve and in B it is washed.

For example, in the case of fullers earth used for purifying lubricating oil, residual lubricating oil may be washed out in B by naphtha entering at 24 and leaving at 25.

Passing upward and out of B, once more the materials are compacted and form a sealing means. The materials enter 0 against another check valve and in C they are further treated. Using naphtha as a washing means in B, steam may be blown into C at 26 and removed together with naphtha vapors at 27. Passing upward and outward from C, the materials are once more compacted prior to passing into D. From D, the material is .allowed to flow out through 29. By prolonging D upward some distance, a sort of resershaft. The conveyors may, or may not,

have the same pitch at all points.

In the'describcd apparatus, continuous operation is effected with maximumutilization of the decolorizing or purifying material. The'admixture of solid and liquid is intimate. No channeling can occur. Similarly,-maximum utilization of washing solvent is attained in B. The process and apparatus may be readily employed to give continuous operation and clear filtrates, using minimum proportions of intimately ad-' mixed solid materials to purify the liquid. The constant progression of a loosely packed cake of just suflicient thickness to give clarity to-the filtrate, with-the purified condition of the liquid'before passing through the cake, makes for high rate-of filtering speed. By arrangingthree sections of apparatus in the We shown for straight line movement of r solld materialtherethrough, much collateral t apparatus in theway of tanks and pumps is 1 liassmg upward from the cylindrical casingsaved. Not much floor space is required wlth the vertical arrangement, and the continuouso eration requires but little labor.

ing. of introducing a treatin agent into a chamber'containmg a liqui immediately filtering a treated portion of the liquid through the a cut, and thereafter treating that portion the liquid yet to be filtere by mixing the agent with such portion.

2. A'treating and filtering process consisting of introducing a treatin agent into a chamber containing a liqui immediately filtering a treated portion of the liquid through the agent while in filter cake form, and thereafter treating that portion of the liquid yet to be filtered by passing the agent in less compact form through such portion.

3. A continuous treating and filtering process consisting of continuously moving in treating agent in relatively compact form over a filter wall within an enclosed chamber, of continuing the movement of the agent in less compact form through a treating counter current chamber in which it passes through and treats a liquid moving in the opposite direction, and passing the treated liquid through the more compact treating agent and the'filter wall.

4. A treating and filtering process consisting of feeding treating solids into a cham-' her, of building upa filter cake therefrom within the chamber, of moving the cake over and oil of a permanent filter wall while such cake is directly in contact with the wall prior to the utilization of its treating values, of

huildin up further filter cake at the end of the wal and moving the same over the wall to take the place of and simultaneously with the movement of the first filter cake off the wall, and moving thesaid first cake solids on through the chamber in intimate contact with incoming liquid whereby the treating Values of the solids are utilized to treat the liquid before filtering the same through the said further filter cake.

5. A continuous treating and filtering process consisting of feeding treatin solids into a chamber, of continuously huil ing up a filter cake therefrom within the chamber, of continuously moving the cake over and off of a permanent filter wall while such cake I is directly" in contact with the wall prior to i the utilization of its treating values, of continuously building up further filter cake at the end of the wall and continuously moving the same over the wall to take the place of and simultaneously with the movement of the first filter cake oil' the wall, and continu-j ously moving the said first cake solids on through the chamber in intimate contact with the incoming liquid whereby the treating values of the solids are utilized to treat 7 .the liquid before filtering the same through the said further filter cake.

6. A treating and filtering recess con-- sisting of forcing a liquid un er pressure into an enclosed chamber and throu h the chamber toward one 'end thereof, ceding lids finto the chamber adjacent end, of up certain of first-cake off the wall, and movin such solids into a filter cake, of moving the cake over and off of a permanent filter wall,

while such cake is directly in contact with the wall prior to the utilization of .its treatvalues, of building up further filter 1n caie at the end of the wall and moving the same over the wall to take the place of and simultaneously with' the movement of the the said first cake solids on through the c amber in intimate contact with and counter currently to the incoming li uid whereb the treating values of the so ids are utillzedto treat the li uid before filterin the same through the said further filter-ca e.

7-. A treating and filtering process con sisting of forcing loose treating solids into a closed chamber and advancing the same through the chamber in suspension in a liquid to be, treated and filtered, forcing the said liquid into and through the chamber in a direction'counterjtothe movement of the solids in a manner thoroughly contacting the:

solids and liquid in a port on of the chamber adjacent the end wherein the liquid is introduced, and separating the treated liquid from the solids by filtering through. certainof the solids adjacent the end of the chama solids and a filter wall within t e chamber,,

and of continuing the movement of the treating a ent into' and through a second chamber w ile passing a washing fluid therethrough in a counter-direction '10. A treating and revivifying process consisting of passing a treating agent of' solids in one direction throu h a liquid a treatin agent of solids cut of solids agent moved ina eounterdirection in anen' closed chamber, of continuing the movement of the treating agent into and through a second chamber while passing a washing liquid therethrough in a counter-direction,-

and thereafter continuing the movement of the treatin agent into and through a third chamber w 'le' passing a washing and recon-- ditioning fluid therethrough in a counterdirection.

,11., A treating and reviyifying process consisting of passing a treating agent in one direction through a quid moved under ressure in a counter-direction in an em: osed chamber, and of cont nuing the movement. of

the treating agent into and through a second chamber while passing a washing liquidtherethrough under pressure in a counterdirection.

12. A continuous treating and filtering process consisting of continuously introducing a fine or pulverulent treating agent into a liquid containing impurities in one portion of a closed chamber, of continuously passing said agent through the chamber and separating said agent with certain of the said impurities from the liquid in another portion of the chamber, and of continuously passing the resultant sludge to another chamber and washing the same to separate the impurities therefrom.

13. A treating and filtering apparatus comprising a closed casing, means for. admittingliquid to be treated and for removing filtrate from the casing, and filtering means for moving a treating agentthrough the casing in counter direction to the movement of i the liquid. A

14. A treating and filtering apparatus comprising a closed-casing, means for deliv- .ering a treating agent thereto, means in the casing forrcompacting the said treating agent as it is delivered, filtering means beyond said compacting means for advancing the treating agent through the casing, and inlet and outlet means for supplying liquid to be treated and removing it from the casing, the ar-. rang'ement of such filtering means and inlet and outlet being such thatthe said agent is moved through the casing in counter direc-- -'tion to the movement of the liquid.

15. A treating and filtering apparatus comprising a plurality of closed casings in communication through restricted passages, means for delivering a treating agent to one of said casings,=means for moving the treating agent therethrough, means for removing the treating agent therefrom and delivermg it to the next said casing through'one of the said restricted passages, and means for delivering liquid to each casing at one point and removing it at another pomt so arranged that the treating. agent is thoroughly contacted with said liquid and the liquid filtered therefrom as the said treating agent advances through the-casings.

16. A treating and filtering apparatus comprising a closed casin having a filter portion in one end thereo and a counter current ortion, a screw comprising spiral filter ights extendin ongitudinally through the casing andadapted to advance a treating agent longitudinally there,- through, means rovidin' a filter .wall and a filtrate outlet in the ter portion of the casing, and means providing an. inlet in the casing for admitting liquid to be treated, the

inlet and said outlet and the said screw and. easing being so arranged that the liquid to' i be treated travels through the casing in a of said treating agent and is thoroughly contacted with the agent inthe countercurrent'portion of the casing before reaching the filter portion.-

17. A treating and filtering apparatus comprising a closed casing, entrance and exit means respectively adjacent the opposite ends thereof solids through the entrance into the casing and out of the exit, means providing an inlet adjacent said exit'end of the casing for admitting liquid to betreated, means providing a filter chamber adjacent to the said entrance end of the casing, means providing an outlet for drawing oil the filtrate from the filter chamber, the greater portion of thecasing, between the filter chamber means for forcing treatingand the said exit, forming a counter-current chamber wherein the liquid isthoroughly contacted and treated with the solids before reachin the filter chamber, and. means in the sai counter-current chamber for advancing the solids therethrough and over the filter wall.

18. treating and filtering apparatus compnsing a closed casing, means for advancing a treating agent therethrough, a

filter wall sfplaced away from the casing and I ing a ent from the point where it iscompacte through the said casing.

'20. A treating and filtering apparatus comprising a casing having a restricted entrance opening fora treating agent, means for delivering the treatin' agent through saidopening, a valve at sai restricted openinginthe casing, arranged to be opened by the treating agent delivered, and filtering means in the casing beyond the valve for moving the treating agent through the casing in counter direction to the liquid movement after it has been forced past said valve.

21. A treating and filtering apparatus comprising a casing, a conveyor therein for moving a treating a cut therethrough,

means for delivering t e treating agent thereto, a valve between the said delivery means and said conveyor, a valve seat In the casing for said valve, and a filtering chamber surrounding said valve.

22., Autreating' and filtering apparatus comprising a filtering casing, means for delivering a treating agent thereinto at one point, means for removing the treating a nt therefrom at another point, vmeans within the casing intermediate said delivery and removing means for sealing said casing upon discontinuous introduction of a treating agent, and filtering means for moving the treating agent through the casing in counter direction to the liquid movement.

23. A treating and filtering apparatus comprising a' closed casing, means for forcing a treating agent thereintosunder pressure, filtering means for moving the agent through the casing, means for movin the treating agent through an outlet 0 the casing, a filter wall adjacent the treating agent inlet, means adjacent the treating 1 agent outlet for admitting the liquid to the casing, such liquid passing through the easing in a direction counter to the movement of the a em, and means 'for withdrawing the liqui from the casing after it has passed I ing said agent and a liquid through such casing in opposite directions, means for mov ing said agent through the restricted opening into the adjacent casing, and meansin the other casings for continuing the movements of the agent and a liquid in like manner, and means for forcing liquid through each casin in a direction counter to the movement 0 the agent.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afixed my signature.

FRED W; MANNING;

and filtering apparatus v 

